Gokyo And Renjo La Pass Trek

Gokyo and Renjo La Pass Trek is the unique and most rewarding trekking trips in Nepal. It combines the trekkers’ journey to Gokyo Valley and a hike through Renjo La Pass at 5360 meters above sea level. And undoubtedly, it offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is adventurous and thrilling.

From the stunning views of the Himalayas, including peaks like Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Island Peak, to the mystic frozen lakes of Gokyo Valley, trekkers will find this trek lifetime memorable. Besides, the cultural background of the Everest Region is so rich that you can experience a diverse lifestyle, religion, culture, and languages.

Similarly, the warm hospitality of the Sherpa people will call you to this region for the second time.

Our trek to Gokyo and Renjo La Pass begins from Lukla, from where we will move ahead to the place called Phakding and then head toward Namche Bazaar, the gate to Mount Everest.

The scenery of the Himalayas will always welcome with its pristine beauty while we hike through the trails. We will continue our hike to Dhole Village, a traditional Sherpa Village with Buddhist culture and tradition. Similarly, before heading to Gokyo Valley, we will make our stop at Machhermo Village. When we move ahead to Gokyo, we will explore five frozen lakes along with the nearest peak, Gokyo Ri (5360 meters).

From Gokyo, we will begin our journey to Renjo La Pass (5360 Meters), one of the three high altitude passes in Everest Region. From there, we will view the stunning scenery of valleys and green lush forests to the downhill. From there, we will proceed our journey to Thame and Namche Bazaar again. Later, we will conclude our hike in Lukla, from where we will fly back to Kathmandu.

Overall, Gokyo and Renjo La Pass trek offers a thrilling experiences with the beauty of the Himalayas, ancient monasteries, traditional villages, diverse people and culture, and green lush forest. Here are some things that you should consider and know before embarking on this beautiful trek. See below!

Highlights of Gokyo And Renjo La Pass Trek

• 360 Views of Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Island Peak, Nuptse, and Cho Oyu
• Traditional Villages with Diverse People, Lifestyle, and Culture
• Cross-Cultural Activities
• Diverse Flora and Fauna in Sagarmatha National Park
• Reach Gokyo Valley and explore five lakes of Gokyo
• Summit Gokyo Ri Peak (5360 Meters)
• Reach Renjo La Pass (5360 meters) and involve in Sightseeing Activities
• Explore The Diverse Build of Namche Bazaar and Sherpa Community
• View Khumbu Glacier from Namche and Other Destinations

Peak Season For This Trek

Generally, Autumn and Spring are the peak season of Gokyo and Renjo La Pass Trek. The Everest Region is freezing almost every month of the year, but during this season, trekkers can experience minimal rainfall and snowfall, making it pleasant to travel around. Here is detailed information on how is the weather like in Autumn and Spring:

Autumn

Autumn comes with a moderate temperature and a pleasant environment. The temperature around Everest Region during this season is 7 to 10 Degrees Celsius during the day. So it is not too hot or cold that makes our body challenging to adapt to the climate.

Similarly, the Autumn season features a dry environment, making navigation easy. Due to less rainfall, the trails do not get wet and slippery. Besides, the clean environment with a clear sky and fewer clouds are the best time to take your sightseeing activities to the next level.

On top of that, Autumn is a season of festivals in Nepal. While traveling to Gokyo and Renjo La Pass, you can experience the celebration of major festivals like Dashain and Tihar. It is also a great chance to be involved in cross-cultural activities, making your trek enjoyable.

Spring

Spring is one of the exciting seasons in Nepal as it brings colors to the environment. During this time, the trees change their leaves, and flowers in the jungle go into full bloom. This creates an eye-pleasing scenery around Gokyo and Renjo La Pass. The white rhododendron makes the full forest white while the colors of other wildflowers blend to make it look like a rainbow.

Besides, Spring features a mild temperature of around 5 to 10 Degrees Celsius around the Everest Region. In addition, there is less chance of rainfall and snowfall, which reduces the potential natural calamities which might create challenges while trekking.

The clean, dry environment with less air and rain precipitation makes our journey more enjoyable. And suppose you are up to the beautiful scenery around Everest Region. In that case, the Spring season is considered the best as it features fewer clouds and mist that might block the stunning views of the Himalayas, local villages, and full-bloomed forests.

Off-Season Trek | Pros and Cons

Besides the peak season, Off-Season Treks to Gokyo and Renjo La Pass are also very famous. Many trekkers embark on the off-season journey to this destination and still make the most of it. However, doing this is unsafe, and we recommend not taking any off-season treks so far.

Off-season treks to Gokyo and Renjo La Pass need strict preparation since, during this time, the weather can be very unpredictable, and the region is prone to natural hazards. In monsoons, there is a chance of landslides, rockfall, and flooding in the streams due to heavy rainfall.

Similarly, the trails get slippery, making trekkers hard to traverse. Similarly, the heavy snowfall in the winter might bring avalanches that can cost lives and properties. Besides, adapting to this region during this season is very challenging. The temperature can drop to -10 Degrees Celsius, and the night times are even more harsh.

Pros of Off-Season Trek To Gokyo and Renjo La Pass

• Budget Friendly
• Abundant Accommodation Facility
• No Shortage of Guides and Porters
• No Crowded Destinations

Cons of Off-Season Trek

• Unpredictable Weather
• Extreme Temperatures
• Chances of Natural Calamities like Landslides, Avalanches, and Rockfall
• Challenging to Operate Rescue Missions

Who Can Do This Trek?

Anyone with prior trekking experience can do this trek. But it does not mean that it does not need any preparations. Trekkers with extensive backgrounds also need a strict preparation and planning before embarking on Gokyo and Renjo La Pass Trek.

As we all know, this trek takes you from the riskiest airport in the world, Lukla Airport, to the valley of frozen lakes, Gokyo; plans should be made accordingly. The trails are rugged and rigged, so you must be physically fit to deal with these trails.

Similarly, the weather condition is unpredictable, so trekkers must be mindful of it before they start the trek. Moreover, the temperature around the Everest Region is harsh, which can even lead to altitude sickness; trekkers must be able to adapt to these requirements during their journey. You can move forward with your trek if your physical conditions can withstand these barriers around Gokyo and Renjo La Pass.

Difficulty Level | Preparations Needed For This Trek

To attempt this trek, you need to be prepared physically and mentally. Since it is a multi-day trekking package, which takes you through the remote locations of the Everest Region, it is considered a moderately challenging journey. So preparation is a must. Explore what kinds of preparation and planning you need for Gokyo and Renjo La Pass Trek!

Permits:

You need to obtain three permits for this trek: Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit and Pasang Lhamu Municipality Entry Permit. These licenses can be purchased from Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu. The Monjo Checkpost also provides you this service.

Gaurishankar Conservation Area Entry Permit is an optional permit, which should be purchased if trekkers are willing to hike from Jiri.

Gear And Equipment

Trekkers have to be equipped with several hiking gear and equipments before embarking on Gokyo and Renjo La Pass Trek. Items like backpacks, hiking boots, trekking poles, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, safety kit, sunscreens, warm clothes, and waterproof/windproof jackets are crucial for this trek.

Physical And Mental Preparation

Trekkers need to have strong physical fitness to carry on this multi-day trek. The trail is uphill, steep, and sloppy, so you need be physically prepared. It requires 6 to 7 hours of continuous walk for around 10 days, so you know how you need to prepare. Trekkers need to workout on altitude trainings, cardio, lung trainings, and others.

At the same time, mental preparation is also very important. Since this is a moderately challenging trekking package, trekkers might get exhausted which can sometimes give a sense of hopelessness. But what we suggest to them is to see on the positive side and prepare for the worst. And do not hesitate to seek help from your guides and porters and push yourself to continue the trek. But remember to know your physical ability: if you start getting symptoms of altitude sickness, lower down your altitude and seek medical help.

With Or Without Guide | Is Solo Trek To Gokyo And Renjo La Pass Trek Available?

Previously, solo trek to Gokyo and Renjo La Pass Trek was allowed, but it has been banned by Nepal Government now. This trek and all the trekking destinations are closed for solo trekking in Nepal. Nepal Government and Nepal Tourism signed a law to close all solo trekking packages to ensure trekkers’ safety during travel.

As there have been several missing cases and trekker injuries on the trek, it was one of the burning topics in the Nepalese Tourism Industry. The law was implemented on April 1, 2023, but it has gained positive and negative criticism worldwide.

We recommend hiring a professional guide to embark on this Gokyo and Renjo La Pass Trek since the destination is in a remote location in Solukhumbu District. The trail is rugged, and it consists of rocky terrains which are sloppy and slippery, which are prone to challenging navigation and access. Similarly, some of our destinations, like Renjo La Pass, Gokyo Ri, and Lungden Village, sit in high altitudes, where trekkers can easily suffer from altitude sickness. To ensure your safety from all these challenges, hiring a guide is the best option.

Professional guides can lead you through the region’s easiest routes and dos and don’ts. Similarly, they have extensive knowledge about the background of the Everest Region. It makes trekkers easy to dwell in the local community, its people, culture, and lifestyle. Similarly, they can help you communicate with the local Sherpa people, which makes it easy to adjust to the community.

Cost Of Gokyo and Renjo La Pass Trek

The cost of Gokyo and Renjo La Pass Trek depends on the time of year you are traveling, days of itinerary, the activities you involve in, and the trekking agency you choose. But if you see from the surface, this trek’s average cost will be over $1300 per person. Since it is a multi-day trekking package that blends two major destinations within Everest Region, the cost comes to be more than the standard package. Here is the breakdown of your cost during this beautiful trek:

Besides, trekkers also have to pay for permits to enter the Everest Region. Here is the breakdown of permit cost required for this trek:

Accommodation Facilities During The Trek

There are three types of accommodation trekkers go through during Gokyo and Renjo La Pass Trek. They are

• Hotel/Guest House
• Tea House
• Camp

Hotel | Guest House.

During the initial phase of our trek, we will accommodate at a hotel in Kathmandu. These hotels have amenities like attached bathrooms, hot showers, 24/7 electricity, and internet services. Also, they are safe to stay and offer a wide range of services.

You also can find hotels and guest rooms during your trek in Namche Bazaar. Namche features various modern hotels that offer you lavish services and amenities. Staying at a hotel can cost you anywhere from $10 to $20, depending on the luxury. If you look forward to staying at a luxury hotel, it can cost you more than $50. However, the choice of staying is all yours.

Tea Houses

Tea Houses are the most common form of accommodation trekkers find during the trek. Tea houses are at almost every Gokyo and Renjo La Pass Trek stop. You can find these logistics services in Phakding, Namche, Thame, Machhermo, and other places.

These tea houses are cheaper than staying at a hotel, which is around $10 per person. You must share a dormitory with shared rooms and bathrooms at tea houses.